5 things the Philadelphia 76ers must improve to contend

Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

4. Position the position-less

It is nice to have players who can play multiple positions — heck Ben Simmons can probably play all five — but there are limitations.

People playing center or forward have to be fairly tall, guards have to be able to handle the ball and shoot (at least a little) and forwards should do a little of everything.

With Muscala and Chandler out and playing Jonah Bolden not a consideration, Brown has put out some really small lineups out there, sometimes four guards (counting Covington as a guard offensively) and a post player.

I know the philosophy of putting your best players on the floor works a lot but, in the NBA, unless you have Draymond Green, other teams will take advantage of the lack of size unless it is a spectacular array of shooters.

Outside of J.J. Redick, the Sixers do not have any exceptional shooters, so while it might be a great locker room idea to throw out, let’s say Fultz, Landry Shamet and T.J. McConnell together, it is not a recipe for long-term success.

Having players in their natural positions will improve their play (see Phillies success when you don’t).